Reference Books Every Homeschooler Should Have
Age-By-Age Guide to Learning Aids in the Home
Having the proper teaching tools is essential to any good learning environment. This is no less true for the homeschooling family. Below is a list of reference books that no homeschooling family should be without. They help with lessons and assignments, and make learning easier at all age group levels.
Reference Books for Ages 3-5
Preschoolers are generally very visual learners. Primary colors and pictures really grab the attention of young children. The following reference books would be helpful to have in your home library for this age group. Keep in mind that reference books are not meant to be consumable workbooks. These are books to be used over and over again and complement workbook activities.
Picture alphabet book: This is a type of "beginner dictionary" should include pictures of things the letter starts with and the proper way to write each specific letter. [Example: Scholastic First Picture Dictionary by Paula Manzanero; Scholastic Reference, July 2005.]
Numbers book: A number book should show pictures of items of the number to count, as well as ways to write the number correctly. [Example: First Number Book by Patti Barber and Anne Montagne; Kingfisher, April 2001.]
Color book: This book defines each of the colors by showing pictures of the appropriate color, possibly along with items that represent each color. Ideally the color should be spelled out on the page. [Example: My First Jumbo Book of Colors by James Diaz and Melanie Gerth; Cartwheel Publishing, March 2002.]
Shape Book: This book defines each shape, teaches the child how to draw the shape, and provides a written definition of the shape on the same page. [Example: Gymboree Shapes: Learn Shapes in Five Languages by Christine Coirault; Key Porter Books, March 2008.]
Other reference books for this age group could include:
- Animal books
- Food books
- Foreign language books
- Seasons and holiday books
Reference Books for Ages 6-12
The elementary age group includes students who will be studying reading, writing, math, and science. These reference books should help the child with these subjects.
Dictionary: This should be an age-appropriate children's dictionary with a wide variety of words and meanings, along with sounding for correct pronunciation. Pictures are sometimes helpful in this age group.
Thesaurus: This book gives alternate meanings to words, and can help the child with her creative writing skills. [Example: Scholastic Children's Thesaurus by John Bollard; Scholastic Reference, 1998.]
Science reference books: There are multiple books in this category that would act as a text for understanding the various aspects of science. These might include (but are not limited to):
- General science
- Earth studies
- Plant studies
- Weather studies
Atlas: A beginner atlas outlines various maps of the world, and is appropriate for this age group. This type of atlas will not go into too many details that could confuse a child.
Encyclopedia: An age appropriate encyclopedia set will be filled with helpful entries and pictures for this age group.
Simplified Technology: General Reference Sites by Linda Burkhart is filled with online reference locations for middle school students. It lists sites for almost every kind of reference your child will possibly need for school work.
Reference Books for Ages 13 and Up
High school students should have access to a wide variety of reference books. While some can be the same as for middle school students, often times high school reference books are more in-depth and on an adult comprehension level. High school reference books should include:
- Thesaurus
- Atlas
- Dictionary
- Almanac
- Encyclopedia
- Biographies, on an as needed basis
- Cliff notes, on an as needed basis
School Library Media Centers offers a comprehensive database of online reference websites for high school students. You simply choose the type of reference you are searching for, and the results will come back with several websites to choose from for information.
You can generally find these reference books in any bookstore or discount retail store. You can also purchase used books from specialty bookstores and through online auctions. The most popular option for accessing reference books, especially for elementary through high school, is to use websites in lieu of actual books.
Homeschool Reference Books
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